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Student Academy Awards 2026: Award Placements Revealed
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored student filmmakers from colleges and universities around the world at the 53rd Student Academy Awards® ceremony.
The ceremony was held at TIFF Lightbox at Reitman Square in Toronto, in partnership with the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and with the support of Rolex.
This year's competition received an impressive 2,972 entries from 894 colleges and universities worldwide, highlighting the extraordinary diversity and quality of emerging filmmaking talent.
2026 Student Academy Award Winners
Gold, Silver and Bronze placements were announced in four categories: Alternative/Experimental, Animation, Documentary and Narrative.
First-Time Honors for Six Film Schools
First-time honors went to students from Concordia University, Duke University, École Supérieure de Métiers Artistiques (ESMA), Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya (ESCAC), St. Joost School of Art and Design and Warsaw Film School.
All Winning Films Now Eligible for the 99th Oscars®
All Student Academy Award-winning films are eligible to compete for the 99th Oscars® in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film or Documentary Short Film categories.
The Student Academy Awards provide an important pathway for emerging filmmakers, giving young creators international recognition and opportunities to connect with professionals across the global film industry.
A Legacy of Emerging Filmmaking Talent
Established in 1972, the Student Academy Awards were created to provide a platform for emerging global talent and to create opportunities for students to showcase their work within the film industry.
Past Student Academy Award winners include Patricia Cardoso, Pete Docter, Spike Lee, Patricia Riggen and Robert Zemeckis.
Previous Student Academy Award winners have gone on to receive 70 Oscar nominations and have won or shared 15 awards.
Rolex Supports the Next Generation of Filmmakers
Rolex is supporting the Student Academy Awards through its partnership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, reflecting its ongoing commitment to excellence, achievement and the transmission of cinematic knowledge to the next generation.
Rolex has supported the Academy since 2017 and also serves as a Proud Sponsor of the Oscars®, while supporting the Governors Awards, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and other major film and cultural initiatives.
Celebrating the Future of Cinema
The 53rd Student Academy Awards once again showcased the extraordinary creativity of emerging filmmakers from around the world. From animation and documentary filmmaking to experimental cinema and narrative storytelling, the winning films represent a new generation of voices shaping the future of international cinema.
